Signaling apparatus.



C. H. SMITH.

SIGNALING APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED OCT. 31, 1914.

Patented $6 14,1915.

2 SHEETS-SHEET I.

GHSMWH C. H. SMITH.

SIGNALING APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED ocr. 31. 1914.

Patented ffiept. 14, 1915.

2 SHEETSSHEET 2.

canes n. siarrn, orrromca, rumors.

SIGNALING APPARATUS.

' s ecification of Letters Patent.

.Pate'nted dept. 1141i, 1915.

Application filed. October 31, 1914.. Serial No. 869,664.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, CYRUS H. SMITH, a citizen of the United States, residing at Tonica, in the county of La Salle and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Signaling Apparatus, of which the following is a specification, reference being had to the accompanying drawings.

This invention relates tuber-tam improvements in signaling apparatus} and has relation more particularly to a device of this general character especially designed and adapted for use in connection with vehicles; and an object of the invention is to provide an apparatus of this character whereby indication may be given with convenience and facility as to the manipulation of the vehicle to which the apparatus is applied, for mstance, to give indication as to the direction of turn of the vehicle or that the vehicle is to be brought to a. stop. Furthermore, it is an object of the invention to provide an apparatus of this general character having novel and improved means whereby the same may be operated by the foot and whereby the operator may readily and conveniently determine the adjustment of the signal.

The invention also contemplates for an object to provide a novel and improved apparatus of this general character wherein the same is operated by the driver and whereby the signal is disclosed at the rear of the vehicle to which the apparatus is applied.

The invention consists in the details of construction and in the combination and ar rangement of the several parts of my improved signaling apparatus whereby certain important advantages are attained and the device is rendered simpler, less expensive and otherwise more convenient and advantageous for use, all as will'be hereinafter more fully set forth.

The novel features of the invention will be carefully defined in the appended claims.

In orderj'tthat my invention may be the better understood, I will now proceed to describe the same with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein Figure 1 is an elevational view of an appa-ratus constructed in accordance'with an embodiment of my invention; the eoacting vehicle being indicated partly in section and partly by dotted lines; Fig. 2 is an enlarged view, partly in elevation and partly in section, of the indicator as herein embodied; Fig. 3 is a front elevational view of the indicator as disclosed in Fig. 2; Fig. 4 is an enlarged vertical sectional view taken through the casing of the apparatus herein set forth ancl illustrating in detail certain details; Fig. 5 is a sectional View taken substantially on the line 5-5 of Fig. 4; Fig. 6 is a sectional view taken substantially on the line 66 of Fig. 4.; Fig. is an enlarged fragmentary view, partly in elevation and partly in section, illustrating the operative connection between the plunger and the shaft as herein embodied; Fig. 8 is a sectional view taken substantially on the line 88 of Fig. Z Fig. 9 is a view, partly in. elevation and partly in section, of the rear signal herein set forth; and Fig. 1.0 is a front elevational view of the signal as disclosed in Fig. 9.

As disclosed in the accompanying drawings, 1 denotes a casing depending from the floor 2 of the body'Bof a conventional vehicle and in the end walls 3 thereof at substantially midway their lengths is rotatably' supported the shaft the extremities thereof projecting exteriorly of the casing and having secured thereto the flexible shafts 5 and 6, the shaft 5 being operatively connected with the rear signal S, while the shaft 6 is operatively connected with the indicator I operatively supported by the dash D of the body and disposed toward theseat A.

Positioned within the casing 1 and secured to the top and bottom walls thereof'in any conventional manner, as indicated at 7, is a tubular member 8 provided with the dia metrically opposed elongated slots 9disposed longitudinally thereof and mounted forreQ ciprocal movement within the tubular member is the plunger 10 adapted to project through the top of the'casing 1 and through the floor 2 of the body B and to have its upper extremity normally maintained at a predetermined Joint above the -fl oor 2 through the medium of the expansible 1nember 11 positioned in the lower portion of the tubular member 8 and with which the inner extremity of the plunger'engages, as is believed to be clearly, obvious. The upper portion of the plunger 10 is hollow in order that the operating pedal 12 may be readily engaged therewith.

The portion of the plunger 10 within the tubular member 8 has affixed thereto a block 14 projecting through one of the slots 9; and to the block is secured an extremity of the flexible member 15, preferably steel tape, the opposite extremity of said tape being secured to the shaft 4 and adapted to be Wound therearound whereby it will be perceived that upon imparting downward movement to the plunger 8, axial rotation will be imparted to said shaft. The shaft 4 has also mounted thereon a pulley 16 to which is secured an extremity of a retractable member 17, herein disclosed as a conventional coil spring, the opposite extremity thereof being suitably anchored or connected to the under face of the top of the casing 1 whereby it will be perceived that under the influence of the retractable member 17 and the expansible member.1l, the plunger 10 will be maintained normally elevated and the flexible member 15 maintained taut.

In order that the shaft 4 may be axially rotated with a minimum of resistance, I find it of advantage to affix thereto at opposite sides of the tubular memberS, the balance wheels 18 serving in a manner which is believed to be self-evident. While the block 14 may be secured to the plunger 10 in any manner which will operate with convenience, I find it of advantage to employ I the construction illustrated in the accom panyin drawings wherein said block has directed therethrough the bolts 19 which are also directed through the slide 20 segmental in cross section and bridging the opposite slot 9, as is believed to be clearly shown in the drawings forming a part hereof.

As herein embodied, the signal S com prises a housing 21 suitably secured to a rear portion of the vehicle and having its outer face 22 of suitable transparent material; and mounted for movement within said housing about a vertical axis is a cylinder 23 having produced on the periphery thereof the various .indications, such as Straight, Stop, Right, and Left, whereby the occupant of a following vehicle may be readily advised as to the manipulation of the vehicle to which my improved apparatus is applied.

As herein embodied, the cylinder 23 is provided with the trunnions 24, the upper trunnion being disposed through the top of the housing 21 and operative'ly engaged with the flexible shaft 5, while the lower trunnion is in engagement with the adjustable hearing 25 threaded through the under face of the housing whereby the cylinder 23 may be properly adjusted relative to the transparent face 22 in order that the indications on the periphery of said cylinder may be properly exposed.

In practice I have found it of advantage to provide means whereby the shaft 4 may be locked in order to maintain the different indieationson the cylinder '21 in exposed adjustment. As herein disclosed, the shaft 4: within the casing has affixed thereto a ratchet wheel 26 with which coacts the dog 27 pivotally supported intermediate its length by the casing 1 and having pivotally engaged with the tail thereof the lower extremity of the operatingplunger or rod 28 projecting through the top of the casing and the floor 2 and terminating a predetermined distance above said floor 2 whereby it will be seen that upon depression of the plunger or operating rod 28, the dog 27 will be dis engaged from the ratchet 26 and thus permit the desired axial rotation of the shaft 4, it being understood that the dog 2'." is normally maintained in engagement with the ratchet 26 under the influence of the spring member 29 suitably supported within the casing 1 and bearing against the engaging extremity of the dog, as is believed to be clearly disclosed in the accompanying drawings. It might also be well to state that the operating rod or plunger 28 has its upper portion tubular in order that the pedal 30 may be readily applied thereto. I also find it of advantage to have the operating rod or plunger 28 disposed through the guide member 31 carried by the adjacent end wall of the easingl.

Asherein set forth, the indicator I comprises a casing 32 in which is mounted for rotation upon a substantially horizontal axis, a cylinder 33, the forward face of the cylinder being provided with a trunnion projecting thr andprovi e with an index or pointer 3t adapted to coact With the indications thereon similar to the indications on the cylinder 23 whereby the operator may readily and conveniently determine which of the several indications are exposed at the rear of the vehicle. The opposed trunnion 35 of the cylinder 33- is operatively engaged with the flexible shaft 6, as is believed to be selfevident.

I find it of advantage to position above and slightly in advance of the forward faces of the housing 21 and the casing 32 the lamp 36, herein disclosed as a conventional electric lamp, whereby said housing and easing may be properly illuminated when the requirements of practice so dictates. I also find it of advantage in practice to have the flexible shafts 5 and 6 disposed through a flexible tubing 37, for reasons which are believed to be self-evident.

\Vhile the several connections between the extremities of the flexible shafts 5 and 6 and their coacting parts may be as desired, I find it particularly advantageous to employ the arrangement as disclosed in the accompanying drawings. As these several connections are in each instance identical,

h the front face of the casing comparatively inexpensive nature and is- I extremity of the flexible shaft 5 is provided with a solid shaft section 4: adapted to project within the bore 38; and said solid shaft section is provided with a radial key 41 adapted to extend within the radial slot 39, asis believed to be self-evident.

I also find it of advantage to have the shaft 4: directed through the bronze bearing 42, the projected portion thereof having in communication therewith the lubricating cup 43.

From the foregoing description, it is thought to be obvious that a signaling apparatus constructed in accordance with my invention is of' an extremely simple and particularly well adapted for use by reason of the convenience andfacility with which it may be assembled, andit will also be obvious that my invention is susceptible of some change and modification without material departure from the principles and spirit thereof and for this reason I do not wish to berunderstood as limiting myself to the precise arrangement and formation of the several parts herein shown in carrying out my invention in practice.

I claim:

1. In combination with a movable member, a casing, a shaft rotatably supported by the casing, an operative connection between the shaft and the member. whereby the shaft and member are. caused to move in synchronism, a tubular member within the casing provided with a longitudinally disposed slot, a plunger mounted for reciprocatory movement within the hollow member, a block secured to the plunger and projecting through the slot, a flexible member secured to the block of the plunger'and to the shaft, said flexible member being wound about the shaft whereby said shaft is caused to rotate in one direction upon movement being imparted to the plunger in one direction, an expansible member positioned within the tubular member and bearing against the under face of the plunger for imparting movement to the plunger in an opposite direction, and means for imparting rotation to the shaft in an opposite direction.

2. In combination with a movable memher, a .casing, a shaft rotatably supported by the casing, an operative connection between the shaft and the member whereby the shaft and member are caused to move in synchronism, at11bularmember within the casing provided with opposed longitudinally disposed slots,a plunger mounted for reciprocatory movement within the tubularmember and provided with means whereby the same may be depressed, a block exterior of the tubular member, clamping members disposed through the block and the plunger and directed through the'slots of the tubular member, a flexible member secured to the block of the plunger and to the shaft, said flexible member being wound about the shaft whereby said shaft is caused to rotate in one direction upon downward movement being imparted to the plunger, and automatic means for imparting movement to the plunger in'an opposite direction.

3. In combination with a movable member, a casing, a shaft rotatably supported by the casing, an operative connection between the shaft and the member whereby the shaft expansible member positioned within the.

tubular member and bearing against the under face of the plunger, means for imparting rotation to the shaft in an opposite direction, and means for holding the shaft against rotation. I

In testimony whereof I hereunto affix my signature in the presence of two .witnesses.

CYRUS H. SMITH.

Witnesses A. MALLEMAN, J. MORTENSON.

Gopiea of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washingtoml). G. I 

